Airbag Failure

Rachel Olszewski

Airbags and seatbelts are two critical safety features in passenger cars. We trust that they will minimize our injuries in the event of an accident; but what if the airbags or seatbelts fail? As we’ve previously discussed, dangerous and defective products that cause injury may give rise to a product liability claim. Product liability claims are unique personal injury claims that focus on the product such as an airbag and how it failed to function safely or as designed, resulting in injury to the consumer. Airbags are products we rely on to function properly, and unfortunately, there are instances when airbags fail.Airbags are rightfully regarded as an important safety feature in vehicles, saving lives and minimizing injuries in moderate to severe car crashes. But airbags are known to fail and/or malfunction. A classic example is when the airbag does not deploy in an accident. Things like electrical or mechanical failures, and problems with the sensors can cause an airbag to fail or malfunction. Also, airbags are not designed to deploy in every crash, and can do more harm than good if they go off in a minor collision.Unfortunately, many people never discover that their airbag is defective until it’s too late. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see if your vehicle is affected by any current airbag recalls. The largest airbag recall relates to Takata airbags, installed in millions of vehicles, such as BMWs, Toyotas, Hondas, and Audis. If you’ve been in an auto accident, and suspect that your airbag failed or malfunctioned, you need a product liability attorney with experience in handling product liability cases. The attorney can investigate your potential claim against the airbag seller or manufacturer. If you do have a case for a defective airbag, you may be able to recover money for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For a free consultation with our personal injury team at Scartelli Olszewski, call or message us today.